You’d never guess by Marie’s calm demeanor how stressful the morning of her wedding was – the boat didn’t turn up in time to be decorated, the caterer delivered the food to her house instead of the venue, and the hairdresser was an hour late! Having overcome all these issues as only a brilliant bride could, Marie and Jonny had a perfect day all the way through – even the sun turned out in all its glory for their wedding breakfast on the boat!
Bride and Groom: Marie & Jonathan (or Jonny). Met at the Secondary School where they both work!
Length of engagement: Got engaged Christmas Day 2011, so it was roughly 7 months. Jonny proposed at the top of the Empire State Building in NYC.
Wedding date: 4th August 2012
Wedding ceremony: The Lantern Room, Bristol Register Office
Wedding reception: It was an early wedding at 11am, so we had two receptions. For the reception lunch we went on a canal cruise on an old steamer ship, The Tower Belle. It was casual and relaxing, and people got to really talk and spend time with each other. For a twist and to fit in with them theme, we served traditional local cider instead of champagne and all the food was locally sourced where possible.
The Ceremony was very emotionally charged, I cried a little as I was walking down the aisle, and Jonny bawled his eyes out! Later on in the day he said to some guests the he was glad everyone was looking at the bride as I came down the aisle so they didn’t see him cry. However, he wasn’t so lucky – everyone said they saw him!
For the evening reception we hired out a lovely 15th Century Wine Cellar, which is part of the Rummer Hotel in Bristol. This place is very special to us as it is where we had our first date! We had a beautiful dinner; again all locally sourced where possible followed by a band, then a DJ and danced the night away. A perfect day if you ask me!
All the ‘Saunders’ boys have at one point in their lives been in a band, so Jonny decided it would be fun if all the Saunders boys got a band together for the wedding and played some numbers. Jonny, his two brothers, two half brothers and his dad all played.
We had quite a lot to drink at the reception, and ended up leaving at about midnight. Before we left, the staff gave us all the leftover food to take with us. My last hazy memory of the wedding was being carried over the threshold back at the hotel by my new husband, my shoes in one hand and a box of beef in the other.
Wedding photographer: Jamie Dodd and assistant photographer from Reason Photography
Wedding theme/colours: Our colour palette was champagne, gold and soft dusky pinks – I love how these colours compliment each other. Having a palette rather than one colour scheme made it easier to work with, but still gave an overall picture of everything fitting in together. Our theme was loosely ‘Vintage Bristol,’ everything where possible was locally sourced from the food and drink to the decorations. We tried to give our visiting guests an impression of ‘real Bristol.’
Wedding dress by: White Rose, bought at College Green Bridal, Bristol.
First dance song: Then I Kissed Her by The Beach Boys
